Found Deceased MO - Carol Schulte, 72, experienced hiker, van in pkg lot, near Al Foster Trailhead, Wildwood, St. Louis, 23 May 2022

[WingsOverTX]

I agree. There’s the van and one ping from her phone. Is there any proof that she made it from the van to the trail? Or that she was ever there at all? As search results turn up nothing, and info like the trail closure comes to light, I think the original premise of lost/injured hiker must be revisited.

Yes. Why is her family so sure she hiked that trail? She doesn't seem like an off-trail risk taker since she usually hiked with a partner & is most likely a recreational hiker who would respect Leave No Trace practices.
JMO

 

[FrogChair]

Yes. Why is her family so sure she hiked that trail? She doesn't seem like an off-trail risk taker since she usually hiked with a partner & is most likely a recreational hiker who would respect Leave No Trace practices.
JMO

Right. An avid hiker tends to respect a closed trail not just for their own personal safety but also because it’s best for the trail’s “health”.
Some additional info I’ve gathered tonight:
- License plate readers (which some people mistook for surveillance cameras) are present in the area. I do not know if they are positioned in a spot that helps in this case or if any info has been gleaned from them. Source: Admin‘s reply to a comment on Missing Hiker: Carol Schulte FB page.
(“Did they ever check the cameras by the mini trains?”
”We’ve been told they are license plate readers.”)
- One of Carol’s stepsons or some other admin from the aforementioned FB page addressed a question about alternate explanations for her disappearance.
(“Are they sure, that she actually arrived there? Somebody, may have staged the scene.”
”The detectives are considering multiple scenarios.”)
- Carol’s personal FB page shows multiple pictures between 2018 and 2021 of her kayaking on calm water with her dog. (Her pup is wearing a life vest. She is not.) Whether her paddling makes her more or less likely to approach the fast and swollen river on foot, I can’t say.
- Carol’s red minivan was towed from the scene earlier this week. I presume it will be processed by LE. Source: Local news reporter Angela Hutti via Twitter.
- A local Meetup.com group that Carol was active in is continuing to organize searches for this weekend.
- I’m seeing more and more references in the above forums to searching in and along the water. (“Have people searched in the water...divers?” “Water searches have been happening every day since Tuesday. Multiple fire districts and Missouri Water Patrol.”)

Final note: I’m new to Websleuths and don’t really understand how the system flows. I’m just acting like I’m on FB or Reddit in that respect. If I’m replying where I should be doing something else, someone please feel free to tell me. I don’t want to create disorganization.
Thanks!

 

[FrogChair]

Castlewood State Park is 1,818.77 acres of thick woods on hilly terrain. Searchers miss people in much less unfriendly terrain all the time. Occam's Razor says that she is in the park.

I totally appreciate what you’re saying. It’s amazing how often someone us eventually found in an area that was searched. IMO, looking at all the info currently at hand, it’s most responsible to consider the possibility that she is not necessarily a “missing hiker”. For example, if she was abducted, investigating that possibility ASAP could make a life-saving difference for her.
LE is, indeed, investigating multiple angles. (I briefly address this in another comment.)

 

[annpats]

If she was at the trailhead for or before 06.00hrs (as per phone ping), then it would have still been dark then, wouldn't it?
For someone who is described as 'not a risk taker' and who "never hikes alone', she has proved those 2 things to be incorrect already.
IF..... IF she got up and went to a trail when it's still pitch black, to find the trail is shut, and yet still hiked on it, that's not a good situation.

But what else? Is it likely anyone nefarious was hanging around the trailhead at that time?! I wouldn't have thought so myself.

Id like to hear from her husband as to whether anything was unusual the night before and why she had booked the day off work.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

If she was at the trailhead for or before 06.00hrs (as per phone ping), then it would have still been dark then, wouldn't it?
For someone who is described as 'not a risk taker' and who "never hikes alone', she has proved those 2 things to be incorrect already.
IF..... IF she got up and went to a trail when it's still pitch black, to find the trail is shut, and yet still hiked on it, that's not a good situation.

But what else? Is it likely anyone nefarious was hanging around the trailhead at that time?! I wouldn't have thought so myself.

Id like to hear from her husband as to whether anything was unusual the night before and why she had booked the day off work.

It all doesn't sound good. Google is telling me sunrise in Wildwood, MO is about 5:11am today, so I guess it'd be somewhat light out by 6:00am.

Have they searched in the northeast direction? I've been looking at the trails area on Google Maps and wondered if she perhaps used the bathrooms and had a medical emergency, maybe became disoriented and tried wandering northeast toward what looks like a residential area, for help.

The fact that her phone shut off or stopped pinging is worrisome for sure. Could she have had a medical issue and tried using the phone for help, and accidentally turned it off while trying to make a call?

Did she call out of work frequently or is that unusual for her? Too many unknowns.

I'm following a case local to me - Find Meghan Marohn. Meg is a well-respected and much admired 41 year old upstate NY school teacher who was placed on a mysterious leave of absence til the end of this school year. (There's a thread here on WS for her.) She decided to try to relax in the Berkshires in western MA at a very nice historic hotel for several days. She hasn't been seen since Sunday, March 27, after asking someone at the inn for directions to Church St. Family thinks she wanted directions to a different Church Street, to visit a sacred indian burial ground, not the Church St she was mistakenly given directions for. Locals noticed her car parked for a few days in a parking lot next to Longcope Park in a neighboring town on a Church Street there. Unusual, as that park is not one you'd camp overnight in, or even stay for more than an hour. Weather conditions were cold, wet and miserable for a hike. Her phone also pinged in the area and then stopped. There has been NO sign of her despite extensive searches for 2 months. Not a clue. They still say "no sign of foul play" but Meg has just disappeared into thin air like Carol seems to have.

 

[Hexe]

It sounds like she liked to hike with people she met through a hiking FB page or MeetUp group. Hopefully, she didn’t “meet up“ with a predator.

That's what I've been thinking about. If Carol has a rule to never hike alone, she might go on this hike with someone she met in the internet. If her family has the access to any of her electronic devices, I think they should check her social media.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Still no signs of missing Ballwin hiker near Al Foster Trail

Search for missing Ballwin hiker, 72, stretches into sixth day.

www.stltoday.com

 

[YaYa_521]

Still no signs of missing Ballwin hiker near Al Foster Trail

Search for missing Ballwin hiker, 72, stretches into sixth day.

www.stltoday.com

Thank you for posting the article. Has anyone said whether Carol's husband or anyone else was aware that she planned to call off of work Monday? Did she leave home with the intention of hiking then going to work? If so, I wonder what made her decide to call off.

From the article:

Carol Schulte was last heard from early Monday, when she called her job as a bus monitor for Rockwood School District to say she wouldn’t be in, Tim Schulte said. Her cellphone last pinged near the trailhead a little after 7 a.m.

 

[FrogChair]

If she was at the trailhead for or before 06.00hrs (as per phone ping), then it would have still been dark then, wouldn't it?
For someone who is described as 'not a risk taker' and who "never hikes alone', she has proved those 2 things to be incorrect already.
IF..... IF she got up and went to a trail when it's still pitch black, to find the trail is shut, and yet still hiked on it, that's not a good situation.

But what else? Is it likely anyone nefarious was hanging around the trailhead at that time?! I wouldn't have thought so myself.

Id like to hear from her husband as to whether anything was unusual the night before and why she had booked the day off work.

I have seen videos, quotes and FB posts/comments from her stepsons and her daughter, but nothing from her husband. News doesn’t seem to mention him much. I’m not sure what his emotional or health status is as all of this unfolds.
An anecdote regarding nefarious people early in the morning... my good friend had a concerning encounter with someone at a wildlife area around that time of morning a couple of years ago right outside of St. Louis. There was nobody else around that early, so there would have been no witnesses. Thankfully, my friend did not cooperate with them and nothing bad happened to her. Not saying Carol was or was not the victim of foul play, but don’t let the time of day create a false sense of security. :-/

 

[FrogChair]

That's what I've been thinking about. If Carol has a rule to never hike alone, she might go on this hike with someone she met in the internet. If her family has the access to any of her electronic devices, I think they should check her social media.

She was a well-known and regular participant in at least one local hiking and kayaking group. The group has a presence on Meetup.com and Facebook. (Their Facebook page is a private, so nonmembers cannot see their posts.) I get the impression that this group is more a community of hiking and kayaking friends versus a clearinghouse of strangers with shared interests. Nothing I’ve read or seen has said she was known to be meeting anyone at the trail. But there seems to be a lot that isn’t known and some pieces that don’t quite seem to fit.
Edited to add: and yes, they should absolutely check her social media. I think LE is probably doing things like that at this point. All angles are being considered.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

Thank you for posting the article. Has anyone said whether Carol's husband or anyone else was aware that she planned to call off of work Monday? Did she leave home with the intention of hiking then going to work? If so, I wonder what made her decide to call off.

From the article:

Carol Schulte was last heard from early Monday, when she called her job as a bus monitor for Rockwood School District to say she wouldn’t be in, Tim Schulte said. Her cellphone last pinged near the trailhead a little after 7 a.m.

I haven't read anything from her husband directly. In fact, that was the first time I'd heard him mentioned, so I was wrongly assuming she may live alone. All good questions. Since he got worried when she wasn't home by 10am, it seems like he wasn't aware that she called out of work, unless she just took the morning shift off. That is, it doesn't seem like he anticipated her to be gone all day.

To answer the other question here about darkness, the other day I looked it up and it seems sunrise is about 5:11am in that area, so it'd be light at 6 but not super light. Would the trails have been marked as closed already at that hour, due to storm damage? That is, would rangers have been out and about at that hour? The park trailhead sign says they technically open at 7am, and given the vast amount of trails, I wonder how they determine if any need to be closed. That's a lot of walking and time for rangers to cover in order to determine what may need to be shut and where.

 

[WiseOwl]

I can't help wondering if there is any possibility that Carol might have self-harmed? I know a lot of people go to places that have fond memories for them to do this.

Carol did a few little things seemingly out of character that Monday morning:

1. She went to the trail on her own, rather than meet up with somebody (as far as we know).
2. She ignored the maintenence signs.
3. She phoned work to say she woudn't be in that day.
4. She switched her phone off.

I hope I am wrong of course but I can't help feeling that all these actions were leading up to something.

 

[WingsOverTX]

I can't help wondering if there is any possibility that Carol might have self-harmed? I know a lot of people go to places that have fond memories for them to do this.

Carol did a few little things seemingly out of character that Monday morning:

1. She went to the trail on her own, rather than meet up with somebody (as far as we know).
2. She ignored the maintenence signs.
3. She phoned work to say she woudn't be in that day.
4. She switched her phone off.

I hope I am wrong of course but I can't help feeling that all these actions were leading up to something.

Yes, it is very concerning. I saw a post from a meetup friend who has known her since 2013 who feels all trails have been thoroughly searched now and sadly, she must be in the river. If so, how tragic.

Her stepsons and daughter are still pushing for searches by ground, air and water as of yesterday.

Whatever the cause or result, she is loved by many who want her found and have put in great efforts to make that happen. Bless them.

Come home, Carol.

 

[annpats]

I saw a post from a meetup friend who has known her since 2013 who feels all trails have been thoroughly searched now and sadly, she must be in the river.

In the river after having an accident and fallen?

I can't see this as being a suicide, but you never know.

 

[JerseyWasHome2]

In the river after having an accident and fallen?

I can't see this as being a suicide, but you never know.

This question is for those of you local to the area - are there places along the various trails where the river is just right next to a trail, and one could easily fall in? I've looked at countless photos online and it looks like, in general, there are trees or vegetation between both, unless of course you're down at beach level.

 

[FrogChair]

This question is for those of you local to the area - are there places along the various trails where the river is just right next to a trail, and one could easily fall in? I've looked at countless photos online and it looks like, in general, there are trees or vegetation between both, unless of course you're down at beach level.

I hiked a portion of this trail once last fall. Well, more like walked. It’s a crushed gravel surface. Easy to navigate. To my recollection, no, there is not a place on the main trail where you are on the trail one minute and falling into the river the next. I don’t know if there were any flood conditions that could have substantially changed this or any trees/branches down that could have forced her to leave the trail to get around them.
There are a number of nearby or connecting trails that sound like they are very challenging. Cliffs and closer proximity to the river could be involved. I’ve got to tell you all, locals have been searching and re-searching these more difficult trails and everywhere in between. They’ve even talked about looking in caves. Lots of folks on foot bushwhacking and looking along the river banks. River levels and wind speeds haven’t been safe for less experienced kayakers, but when we get a calmer wind day and the river goes down, I expect more people to be on the water looking. I’m not saying she can’t be out there. But my
gosh they’ve been looking hard for her.

 

[FrogChair]

I haven't read anything from her husband directly. In fact, that was the first time I'd heard him mentioned, so I was wrongly assuming she may live alone. All good questions. Since he got worried when she wasn't home by 10am, it seems like he wasn't aware that she called out of work, unless she just took the morning shift off. That is, it doesn't seem like he anticipated her to be gone all day.

To answer the other question here about darkness, the other day I looked it up and it seems sunrise is about 5:11am in that area, so it'd be light at 6 but not super light. Would the trails have been marked as closed already at that hour, due to storm damage? That is, would rangers have been out and about at that hour? The park trailhead sign says they technically open at 7am, and given the vast amount of trails, I wonder how they determine if any need to be closed. That's a lot of walking and time for rangers to cover in order to determine what may need to be shut and where.

Some thoughts…
As previously shared by another user, the city of Wildwood posted this (see attached photos or link) on their Facebook page on May 21, prior to the Monday Carol went missing. (The 23rd.) The post says signage IS posted, which suggests signs announcing the closings were up starting at least a couple of days before her disappearance. Having said that, people make mistakes. Maybe the FB post was wrong. Maybe somebody didn’t put up the signs like they were supposed to.
I wonder if any of the workers were present that day and if they saw anything.

City of Wildwood, MO - Government

Access to the Al Foster Memorial Trail between the Glencoe Area and Sherman Beach will be closed to public use starting Monday, May 23rd. The trail will remain closed through Wednesday, May 25th...

www.facebook.com

 

[WiseOwl]

Some thoughts…
As previously shared by another user, the city of Wildwood posted this (see attached photos or link) on their Facebook page on May 21, prior to the Monday Carol went missing. (The 23rd.) The post says signage IS posted, which suggests signs announcing the closings were up starting at least a couple of days before her disappearance. Having said that, people make mistakes. Maybe the FB post was wrong. Maybe somebody didn’t put up the signs like they were supposed to.
I wonder if any of the workers were present that day and if they saw anything.

City of Wildwood, MO - Government

Access to the Al Foster Memorial Trail between the Glencoe Area and Sherman Beach will be closed to public use starting Monday, May 23rd. The trail will remain closed through Wednesday, May 25th...

www.facebook.com

It's an interesting point about the workers on the trail @FrogChair.

It doesn't seem that any workers were around when Carol parked up or surely thay would have told her the path was closed due to maintenance? Or possibly they hadn't started work that early in the morning?

Also, has it ever been said who found Carol's minivan? Was it the trail workers or the police?

 

[YaYa_521]

It's an interesting point about the workers on the trail @FrogChair.

It doesn't seem that any workers were around when Carol parked up or surely thay would have told her the path was closed due to maintenance? Or possibly they hadn't started work that early in the morning?

Also, has it ever been said who found Carol's minivan? Was it the trail workers or the police?

I wonder if police took note of the van's driver's seat position. Also, have they searched for video of Carol at homes and businesses along the route she would have traveled from home to the parking area?

 

[Cruiser933]

Body found in Meramec River near Arnold

A body was found in the Meramec River near Arnold, Mo. Monday afternoon, authorities tell News 4

www.kmov.com

A body was found several miles down river today. No identification released yet. Someone else slipped and fell in the river in nearby Castlewood State Park. That person was rescued but is in critical condition.